What is a PodPower ?

[Loler]

I have seen some "items" called PodPower (in a web page that only sells powerballs). They are things like this:

https://www.thinc1st.com/shop/img/000004/389-11-24-52-24-08-06-podpoweramber.jpg

Just by curiosity , what are they used for ?

Greetings

[Dennis]

Hi Loler,

Actually, this is a strap-on unit to train your feet with PowerBalls! I had a look at the site (it's Dutch) and there are some nice videos on that website to show you how it's done.

There is also an automatic starter device to start up your PowerBall using a little motor and some batteries. Personally, I think this is a pretty useless device, as it is quite easy to start up the PowerBall with the little red cord that's provided with every order from powerballs.com. Further more, after several efforts, you can start it up with your finger without using the cord. I'd never spend money on that device.

But the foot-training machine is interesting. I believe it was also mentioned by Adrena1in in another topic (The Power Tower thread). I'll try to link that thread to this one. This should be it:

http://www.powerballs.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6788&postcount=10

Kind regards,
Dennis

[Loler]

To use powerball with ur feet ?

So lol ^^

[Dennis]

Hi Loler,

To use powerball with ur feet ?


Yup, no kidding. :cool:

Can't post the website URL to show the video, though. It'd be removed by the moderator. Anyway, the little bars at the bottom of the device are used to strap a cord or rubber ribbon onto your foot. You have to place the heel of your foot on top of a cushion or something and either rotate or wiggle your foot to keep the PowerBall spinning. I have no idea, however, how the PowerBall is started up. Maybe that's why the particular website also sells automatic starters?

Kind regards,
Dennis

[Enda]

Its a brand-new product, as is the starter.

Both will be available for purchase here within the next 6-8 weeks when they become available as main-stream products.

I really like the idea of the foot trainer - I have a lot of problems with my knees and ankle and am looking forward to trying it!

The starter will actually be useful on two fronts, both in a retail environment, and also for those who are using Powerball to aid in rehabilitation. Bear in mind that they may have difficulty gripping, and indeed may lack the strength or dexterity in their arms to properly start the Powerball.

I'm looking forward to both products, but have to admit I'm salivating at the thought of the foot trainer!

Regards

Enda
--

[Pako]

I know advanced powerballers don't need the starter. But I have a question: how smooth is the way the starter spins the powerball? How many rpm does it reach?

I wonder if starting the powerball with the finger may affect in anyway the life of the powerball? Starting with the string will make it last longer? I think those first moments when the powerball acquires speed may damage it a bit, but could someone tell me how much? :)

Btw, can the starter handle the Phantom?

regards,
Pako.

[Loler]

Pako, I don´t think that starting the PB with the fingers affects the PB´s life , because with both methods, the only things you do is to make the PB spin a little (I cannot proof this, but It´s my opinion)

Anyway, I think that using the cord to start the PB is more dangerous, because It has a little risk to enter inside the PB if something goes wrong, and it is not easy to dismount the PB to recover the cord again ...

To start the PB I use my pinky´s side that joins my hand, It is easy to start It this way because u have a long surface to slide through the PB

Greetings

[Installed]

Wow, I cant believe they actually sell something like that! Sweet idea though.:p

P.S. Now you can make a new scoreboard: 9 Powerballs.... 3 in each hand(is possible with big hands), 1 in each foot, and one in the mouth! :D

[DrummerBoy2000]

i cant find the website online... i wanna see that video, but i can't find it.

[Dennis]

Hi DrummerBoy2000,

Sorry, I don't think I'm allowed to post the link here. You'd better ask Enda...

Kind regards,
Dennis

[Enda]

PM sent.

Regards

Enda
--

[DrummerBoy2000]

this thing is cool, but not as cool as Enda. Enda rocks, lol. I'm seriously thinking about getting one though, can't wait.

[Sayex]

this thing is cool, but not as cool as Enda. Enda rocks, lol. I'm seriously thinking about getting one though, can't wait.

could someone sent me the URL of that video?? please =D

[The Force]

I think that the electronic starter is quite useful. It will increase the lifespan of the powerball, because starting the powerball with your fingers is stressing the powerball in a way.

Regards,

The Force

[Pako]

That's what I was asking before: I watched videos from people that can start powerball with fingers, but still use the string. To what extent will that affect the life of our precious creatures?

If the starter increases the speed smoothly and the pressure over the rotor does not stress the axis, I think it would be nice to use.


Pako.

[Adrena1in]

I don't think that a finger-start damages the Powerball. You're flicking your finger across the surface, in the direction the rotor spins. What pressure you actually put on the axle is negligible. (And I've put almost my whole weight directly down on the rotor once, to try and straighten out the bent axle, but it's made no difference.)

[Autolupus]

When is "Podpower" going to be available here? I'd buy one! And what news of the lightweight rotor for the Metal?

[Autolupus]

Could buy this already but don't like the Idea of bank transfer, much prefer paypal. C'mon Enda when's it going to be available! ;)

[Autolupus]

Available now!

[noosphere]

Has anyone tried one of these gizmos yet? I'm wondering just how fast someone could spin a powerball with their feet. I expect not very fast, unless you're a ballet dancer, since the range of motion and precision an average person can perform with their feet/legs is nothing compared to what they can do with their wrists. Still, it'd be interesting to see if you can actually keep the ball spinning fast enough to keep it going.

::noosphere::

[Adrena1in]

Can easily spin it fast enough to keep it going, though even after several minutes I find it does knock and change direction a lot. My absolute best speed is just short of 9000 rpm, but usually I get to 6 or 7k and things get too out of control. (A couple of times the Powerball has flown out of the attachment, which isn't good!) :(

[Rory]

Greetings chaps!

Thanks for the comments Tim / all.

In truth, the Pod Power device hasn't been designed for absolute high speed operation and will react to excess inertia from the gyro by eventually coming apart like Tim has experienced if pushed hard!

More, the device has been designed to offer a therapeutic experience to the lower leg/ankle while used at slower speeds and over a longer period of time (ideal to operate while sitting watching television etc.) and will test the muscles and ligaments considerably in the process.

In the design process, many different systems were tested before the current one was selected, primarily because it proved simple to attach a spinning ball to the main body of the Pod Power (which had already been strapped to the foot) while at the same time, affording a secure mount for the ball up to speeds that would be outside of the general training range (unless of course, you were doing a 'Tim' on it and seeing just how fast you could get it to spin with your foot! :-)

Thanks once again for your comments. Kind regards Rory

[olly_k]

I will give my powerball to the first person who flick starts their caged, foot mounted ball with their big toe :D







Only Joking!

[GT40_GearHead]

I will give my powerball to the first person who flick starts their caged, foot mounted ball with their big toe :D







Only Joking!

Give a pod thingy and I'll DO IT

[Adrena1in]

(unless of course, you were doing a 'Tim' on it and seeing just how fast you could get it to spin with your foot! :-)
"Give a man a live WWII shell and tell him to hold it carefully and he will.
Give a man a Powerball and tell him to only spin it gently and he'll spin is as fast as he can."

It's one of the rules of Powerballs...you of all people should know that! ;)

[barrybpl]

In truth, the Pod Power device hasn't been designed for absolute high speed operation and will react to excess inertia from the gyro by eventually coming apart like Tim has experienced if pushed hard!


What speed is it designed to work up to then?

With a relatively low maximum speed before it 'explodes' I guess that means we wont got a scorboard for it either :(

Oh well, I'm still looking forward to getting mine (hopefully today) and seeing what I can do, although I'm worried that a complete lack of smoothness will damage the powerball I put in the thing.

--Barry.

[Adrena1in]

In fairness to the product, mine did pop open at 8400 revs because

a) I hadn't fastened the upper-section in properly, and
b) I was kicking my leg about like a horse with a wasp round it's nethers!

What I'd done was tighten the strap while it was on my foot, and this caused one of the three attachments for the upper section to pop loose slightly. You can just about hear it on the video - the noise from the Powerball gets slightly louder.

http://www.powerballs.com/score_videos/8401_PodPower_Tim-Bridle.MP4

[barrybpl]

Well I got mine as I expected, but as yet I cant even keep it going....

Just takes a bit of getting used to I guess.

--Barry.

[petemayhew]

Just watched that video it rather funny :D

[Dennis]

b) I was kicking my leg about like a horse with a wasp round it's nethers!


*HAHAHA* Hadn't seen a PodPower record attempt before. This is quite hilarious! Sorry :p

Dennis

[Adrena1in]

Stop laughing, my poor little Powerball wasn't happy. The next time it happened I swore out loud!! :mad:

:o :) :D

[Autolupus]

Just been playing with my newly delivered Podpower.
Feels really awkward and can't get up any speed at all!
Can keep it going though and knocking doesn't seem to be an issue.
Only played for a few minutes but could really feel the "burn", got a feeling this could be quite a useful tool!
Tried to see what speed it would spit the ball at, so strapped the Pod to my hand and spun it up (over a nice soft duvet);) .
It spat the ball at about 9000ish, so put the ball back in, making sure the clips all secured, and tried again, 12559 this time and the ball didn't budge.
Did a few more 12k+ runs to check and the ball stayed put, so I reckon once you can start achieving 8k+ runs with your feet it'd be a good idea to dry run it first with your hand over something nice and soft! Eh, Adrena1in!;) :D

[Autolupus]

Reckon they'd be an excellent training aid for drummers, helping build a high degree of coordination and endurance in the feet, ankles and legs.:)

[Adrena1in]

I've just ordered another.

Closest guess to my quad-Neon total score wins. :D

[petemayhew]

33,400 i'm guessing if you've done it yet :p sorry if im way off :)

[Adrena1in]

I only ordered my second one today.

[Alastair V]

I'll say around 40,000.

[WildThunder]

It will be 37,500.

You really have to catch this attempt on video, can't wait to see your body position :D

[One-Eye]

41500 for quad neon score.

Gonna send the vid to "You've been Framed" too. :p;):D

[Adrena1in]

Some very high predictions there. :o

[Alastair V]

Some very high predictions there. :o
I reckon you could do 12000 with both hands and 8000 with both feet = 40000.

I suspect when you are doing it it will look like some sort of strange new swimming stroke!

[Adrena1in]

I think I could do 40000 in a quad-90s endurance run, but doubt very much I could do that much in speed. Synchronising two hands at 12 or 13 isn't going to be the problem, nor is synchronising two feet at 6 or 7k...it's going to be doing them all at the same time! Plus I'm going to be sat down with my legs off the floor, and that's going to be a bit alien too.

What I'm thinking is going to happen is that my arms are going to end up synchronised at twice the speed of my feet. Remember, as per the Dual-Hand league, the rule is that all the scores should be done at the same time. Can't get good feet scores and then ignore them and get good hand scores...that would be cheating! ;)

I'm predicting around 30000 in total, but we'll see how it goes...whatever, it should be interesting.

[Autolupus]

It'll be a master class in multi-tasking!;) :D
Rubbing your stomach whilst patting you head will seem like a stroll in the park after that!;) :D

[barrybpl]

lol, I'd like to see you press the 4 reset buttons at the same time to start an endurance run!

Also, you'll have to rotate your feet and hands in the same direction bacause it uses the same part of the brain for both.

I should try mine again, still haven't got it spinning :( .

--Barry.

[Adrena1in]

Also, you'll have to rotate your feet and hands in the same direction bacause it uses the same part of the brain for both.Not a problem...my ankles don't really rotate smoothly as it is...they're very uncoordinated.

[WildThunder]

I've just ordered another.

Closest guess to my quad-Neon total score wins. :D

Hi Adrena1in,
have you tried the quad spin yet? ;)

[Adrena1in]

have you tried the quad spin yet? ;)Gave a Dual-Foot run a go the other night, and could keep them going, but as soon as I started spinning a third with my hand the co-ordination went to pieces. I'll have a go soon...just not had the time recently really.

[MrCharlie]

Just got one of these things. PodPower kicks ****

[LTLFTC]

Ive got a load of washing to do if you want to try this in the bath Adrena1in!!!!:rolleyes: